Pashinyan asks his supporters to unblock courthouses in Armenia
20.05.2019,
15:29
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on his supporters to unblock the court buildings across the country after announcing sweeping judiciary reforms.
YEREVAN, May 20. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called on his supporters to unblock the court buildings across the country after announcing sweeping judiciary reforms.
"Courts are the remnants of the former corrupt authorities. People have no trust in the judiciary and therefore it lacks legitimacy," Pashinyan told a televised cabinet meeting. "The time has come for a surgical intervention" with all judges to subjected to a thorough vetting during a "transitional" period,’ he said.
Pashinyan said he counts on the assistance of Armenia's international partners in implementing the judiciary reform which he said is the "second and most important stage of the revolution."
Earlier on Sunday Pashinyan called on the supporters to rally outside Armenia’s court buildings and to block their entrances for “the start of the second and most important phase of the Armenian revolution”.
Pashinyan thanked all the citizens who, following his call, blocked the court buildings without exception. ‘I want to state that the purpose of that move was to fix the demand of the people to have a truly independent judicial system and I state that the government and the people of Armenia are united in this," he said.
Pashinyan said that the government is starting concrete steps towards building a free judicial system. He said another goal of the move was to show the public outrage caused by the injustice of the judicial system. "Now it has become obvious to all that a truly independent judicial system cannot exist in Armenia without people's power. Everyone saw that illegal interventions in judicial processes will face tough popular opposition," said Pashinyan.
Pashinyan’s appeal to block the courthouses came a day after a court in Yerevan ordered the release of ex-president Robert Kocharyan from pre-trial detention. Kocharyan is accused of overthrowing constitutional order and bribe taking. The court’s ruling was strongly condemned by many supporters of the prime minister. . -0-
"Courts are the remnants of the former corrupt authorities. People have no trust in the judiciary and therefore it lacks legitimacy," Pashinyan told a televised cabinet meeting. "The time has come for a surgical intervention" with all judges to subjected to a thorough vetting during a "transitional" period,’ he said.
Pashinyan said he counts on the assistance of Armenia's international partners in implementing the judiciary reform which he said is the "second and most important stage of the revolution."
Earlier on Sunday Pashinyan called on the supporters to rally outside Armenia’s court buildings and to block their entrances for “the start of the second and most important phase of the Armenian revolution”.
Pashinyan thanked all the citizens who, following his call, blocked the court buildings without exception. ‘I want to state that the purpose of that move was to fix the demand of the people to have a truly independent judicial system and I state that the government and the people of Armenia are united in this," he said.
Pashinyan said that the government is starting concrete steps towards building a free judicial system. He said another goal of the move was to show the public outrage caused by the injustice of the judicial system. "Now it has become obvious to all that a truly independent judicial system cannot exist in Armenia without people's power. Everyone saw that illegal interventions in judicial processes will face tough popular opposition," said Pashinyan.
Pashinyan’s appeal to block the courthouses came a day after a court in Yerevan ordered the release of ex-president Robert Kocharyan from pre-trial detention. Kocharyan is accused of overthrowing constitutional order and bribe taking. The court’s ruling was strongly condemned by many supporters of the prime minister. . -0-
